Awards

Each year, the Lawyers’ Committee commemorates the legacy of Rosa Parks by recognizing the accomplishments of a contemporary civil rights leader. Born on February 4, 1913, Rosa sparked the civil rights movement on December 1, 1955, when she refused to yield her seat to a white passenger on a Montgomery, Alabama bus. What followed was the legendary drive to defeat Jim Crow practices throughout the country. Rosa’s heroic campaign fight civil rights injustices spanned decades. In 1987, Rosa, along with Elaine Eason Steele, inaugurated the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development. In recognition of her historic efforts, Rosa received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1996 and the U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor in 1999. On October 24, 2005, at 7:20 p.m., with friends and family near, Rosa claimed eternal rest.

In 2016, the Lawyers’ Committee honored Cynthia Mark, Chief of the Fair Labor Division in the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office, for her distinguished social justice advocacy.

In 2015, the Lawyers’ Committee honored MassVote, a civic engagement organization, for its continued advocacy on voting rights issues.

In 2012, the Lawyers’ Committee honored retired Judge Judith Dilday of the Probate and Family Court of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with the Keeper of the Flame Award at its annual reception, which featured keynote speaker Isabel Wilkerson, the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of The Warmth of Other Suns.

In 2011, the Lawyers’ Committee honored Prof. Margaret Burnham of Northeastern University School of Law with the Keeper of the Flame Award at its annual reception, which featured keynote speaker Judge Nancy Gertner of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

In 2010, the Lawyers’ Committee honored Gail Snowden, CEO of Freedom House, with the Keeper of the Flame Award at its annual reception, which featured keynote speaker Thomas Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 2009, the Lawyers’ Committee honored Barbara Arwine, Executive Director of the national Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, with the Keeper of the Flame Award.

Founders’ Award

The Lawyers’ Committee founders were forward-thinking individuals who contributed greatly to the furtherance of social justice in Massachusetts and inspired subsequent generations of civil rights attorneys. Our founders are:

Richard L. Banks Hans F. Loeser

d’Andelot Belin William F. Looney, Jr.

Hon. Frederick L. Brown Frank I. Michelman

Theodore Chase Hon. David S. Nelson

Livingston Hall James D. St. Clair

Samuel Hoar James Vorenberg

Hon. Paul J. Liacos

On the occasion of our 45th anniversary, the Lawyers’ Committee established the Founders Award in recognition of the pivotal role that our founders played in championing civil rights and laying the groundwork for the ongoing work of challenging discrimination. The award is given to an individual “for carrying on the pioneering efforts of the organization’s founders through extraordinary career contributions to enhancing social and economic justice.”

In 2013, the inaugural Founders’ Award was given to Brent Henry, Vice President and General Counsel of Partners HealthCare, for his commitment to excellence in health care and this longstanding public service aimed at improving social and economic disparities.

In 2014, the award was given to Evelynn Hammonds, former Dean of Harvard College, and currently Professor and Director of Harvard’s Program for the Study of Race and Gender in Science and Medicine, for her lifelong commitment to race and gender equality.

In 2015, the award was given to Jackie Glenn, Global Chief Diversity Officer at EMC Corporation, for her leadership in diversity and inclusion strategies and programs.

In 2016, the award was given to Mark Roellig (General Counsel) and Dominic Blue (Deputy General Counsel) of MassMutual for promoting diversity in the legal profession.